Alexandria Gazette
May 25, 1874
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS. [From the Manassas Gazette]
The County Board of Supervisors met on Monday, for the purpose of providing for putting in force the act of the General Assembly for the protection of sheep by a tax on dogs. It was ordered that the Assessors in the several Townships list all dogs within their several Districts issuing licenses to keep the same, to the owner at a uniform tax of fifty cents per dog; also that whenever the owner of any sheep shall become satisfied that any portion of his flock has been killed or seriously injured by [d]ogs, he shall apply to the Supervisors or some Justice of his Township, who shall at once proceed to view the sheep so killed or seriously injured, and ascertain what the amount of damage is which has been sustained by the owner of the sheep and give him a certificate therefor. The Board agreed that the bounty of forty cents on gray fox scalps, and a bounty of sixty cents on red fox scalps shall be paid out of the dog tax to take effect on and after the 18th day of May.
During the thunderstorm on Saturday last, a large locust tree, in Mr. John T. Leachman's front yard was struck by lightning, tearing it into fragments and throwing the debris on and over the house. Several members of Mr. Leachman's family were very much shocked. So great was the shock that articles in the house were thrown down. The rain was very heavy in that section, raising the streams unusually high, and washing away water gaps fencing & c. Lightning also struck a tree near the house of Mr. Mankins, a quarter of a mile outside the village, and severely stunned his daughter.
Mr. Samuel Allen, one of the most enterprising citizens of this county, was accidentally killed on Thursday last. He was at his steam saw mill, on the farm of Mr. John H. Kirby near Independent Hill, and about 4 o'clock in the evening was struck in the stomach with a slab which had be caught by the great saw and thrown from it with tremendous violence. After undergoing intence [sic] suffering for 14 hours he died at 6 o'clock.
A dog having all the symptoms of hydrophobia was shot by M. F. W. Oakey on Tuesday. It is rumored that several dogs have been bitten, and it s said the dog was bitten some time since by a dog supposed to be mad, which was killed at the time.
Frank Cole a colored laborer working at the new Presbyterian church in Manassas, while helping to carry a large stone up the gang way on Monday last, fell to the ground a distance of fifteen feet, severely spraining one of his ankles, and receiving other injuries, not however serious.
After the thunder storm on Saturday last, several persons in this community discovered floating on the surface of the water in their rain barrels, a substance which on inspection proved to be a deposit of brimstone.
Mr. F. W. Hutchins has sold to Mr. Thurman of Germanton, Pa., one hundred acres of land near Manassas, improved by a frame dwelling and tolerable out buildings, for $3,000.
The friends of Mr. W. W. Davis will be glad to learn that he is recovering from the severe injuries [h]e received several weeks ago, by being struck to the ground by his horse.
The water in the well of one of our citizens has become so strongly impregnated with coal oil that the family have been compelled to discontinue its use.
We regret to announce the serious illness of Mr. Leonard Lywood, one of our most useful and highly respected English residents.
The concert at the M. E. Church on Thursday evening the 15th inst., was a most delightful entertainment.
